Huntsman Chemical has a capacity of about 100,000 tpa of styrene monomer at the Footscray plant, for which 80% of feedstock is imported, since stricter environmental regulations ended local supplies. The plant also makes phenol and acetone using imported benzene. Huntsman Chemical relied on a 5% import tariff in order to be competitive against lower-cost products made by rivals in Asia. Competitive advantage is being eroded by having to import the raw material.
USA's fourth-largest chemical maker, Huntsman Corp., is considering selling Huntsman Chemical, its ailing West Footscray styrene petrochemicals business. The company plans to take a US$66 million charge in Q3-2005 to write down the value of the unit.
28-Sep-05 
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